Comparative assessment of reproductive abilities of crossbred heifers in the conditions of the Lower Volga Region

Abstract

Aim. To study in a comparative aspect the reproductive abilities of crossbred heifers obtained as a result of industrial interbreeding. Material and Methods. Zootechnical and mathematical methods of analysis, as well as the documents of zootechnical breeding records available on the farm, cards of breeding bulls-producers were used in the course of research. The digital material was biometrically processed on a PC using the Microsoft Office Excel program. Results. Studies have shown that crossbred young animal of all four experimental groups were characterized by high growth rates and gain in live weight. At the same time, the most weighty and forward were the three-breed hybrid Hereford heifers of the III group with the genotype ½ hereford x ¼ charolais x ¼ simmenthal. However, the rapid gain in body weight did not affect the age of the onset and end of puberty in young animals of this group and amounted to 258.30 and 316.22 days. respectively. In crossbred heifers of Kalmyk breed of group I with a genotype of ½ kalmyks. x ¼ salers x ¼ simmenthal faster than all their peers, puberty began and ended (249.30 and 301.40 days, respectively), which made it possible to start inseminating them first (485.50 days). Conclusion. In crossbred first-calf heifers of all four genotypes, good maternal qualities were noted, which allows them to be used in the formation of broodstock in beef cattle breeding. To increase the production of beef and improve its quality, it is advisable to effectively use the genetic potential of the Kalmyk and Hereford breeds.